Shipping tray for flowers



Sept.V 19, 1944.

P. BACIGALUPI SHIPPING TRAY FOR FLowE'Rs` 3 Sheets-'Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 18, 1943 Filed Feb. 1a. 194:5

3 Sheets-#Sheet 2 a/\..|| Z aw R l .la dv. 0 Mv LW l PV y am P. BACIGALUPI SHIPPING TRAY FOR FLOWERS Sept. 19, 1944.

Filed Feb. 18,'1943 s sheets-sheet s ---EV lllil l IN VEN TOR,

Patented Sept. 19, 1944 UNITED 4s'm'rs IPATIiN'r OFFICE SHIPPING TRAY Fon FLOWERS Peter Bacigalupi, San Francisco, Calif., assignor to Lawrence Basso Vand Rose Zappettini, doing business as Wm. Zappettini Company, San

Francisco, Calif.

Application February 1s, 1s4aseria1 No. 476,345

eciaims. (ci. 20s-'42) of any of them coming into contact with surfaces which would tend to damage them.

A further object is to provide a tray of this type which can be manufactured and shipped in knockdown form and readily set up for use, it being possible to hold the flowers in spaced rows, the flowers in each row being also spaced from one another.

It is a further object to so construct the tray that it will be prevented from shifting within the box or carton in which it is placed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure l is a top plan view of the trayin position within a box the top of which is removed,

some iiowers being shown positioned on the tray. Y

Figure 2 is a section on line 2 2, Figure l, the box being closed and ready for shipment.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3 3, Figure l, the lid of the box being in position.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the tray, a portion being broken away.

Figure 5 is an enlarged elevation of one corner portion of the tray as viewed from the end.

Figure 6 is a section on line 6 6, Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a perspective View of one end-portion of the tray, a portion being broken away. Y

Figure 8 is a section through aside portion of the tray looking toward one end, said section being on the line 8 8, Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the blank from which the body portion of the tray is formed.

Figure 10 is a topplan view of one of the tie strips of the tray.

Referring to the figures by characters of refer.- ence, I designates an elongated sheet of heavy paper stock having end flaps 2 extending throughvout the width thereof which are extended from transverse or weakened score lines 3 each of which is adjacent to and parallel-with another weakened or score line 4. At regular intervals along the blank there are provided additional parallel score lines 5 and 6 corresponding with the lines 3 and 4 and defining, between them, bottom panels 'I which correspond with a fbottom panel 8 formed between each line 3 and its adjacent line 4.

The areas between the bottom panels 'I and 8 and between the bottom panels 1 are dividedby transverse scores 9 into separate panel portions III and II. The panel portions I0 are of greater Width than the panel portions II and each of these panel portions I8 has' a transverse series of flower-receiving openings I2,each of which is defined by an annular series of integral paper prongs I3 segmental in form and made integral with the blank by forming slits in the blank which radiate from the openings I2. These .slits have been indicated at I4.

The side edges of the blank are notched at the ends of the score lines 5 and 6, as shown at [Sand short slits I6 are extended inwardly from these notches so'that the material between the slits thus constitutes tongues I1.

Additionalslits I8 are formed inline'with the respective score lines 3 and#y adjacent to the side edges of the blank so as to define straps I9 which are integral Lwith the blank. Each of the end aps 2 has a slot 20 extending transversely thereof, adjacent to and parallel with-one of the slits I8. y

In addition to the blank `I there; are provided two strips of material preferably of paper stock comparatively stiff and these` strips have been indicated at 2|. Each strip has a transverse score 22 near each end and these define terminal tongues 23 in each of which is formed an arcuate slit 24 defining an ear 25. The two ears are extended toward each other as shown in Fig. 10 and the distance between the ends of' each Slt 274 and, the adjacent score line 22 is substanf tially equal to the vdistance between one of the slits 20 and the adjacent slit I8.

Formed in each of the tie strips is a longitudinal series o f slits 26 and these slits arespaced apartl equally and kare equal in number to the number of the tongues I1. y

` The distance between `the score lines 22 of the tie strips Ill .is substantially equal to the length of the carton or other container in which the tray is lto be lplaced so that when the tray the box and stiiening the panels I and II at" their lower portions. Thus these panels I and II cannot buckle and at the same time they are held constantly spaced apartthe proper distance so that the flower-receiving spaces will not become contracted.

The blanks shown in Figs. 9 and 10 are adapted to be shipped flat. When it is desired to set them up for use the blank I is folded along the score lines 3, 4, 5 and 6, so that the panels I I will be substantially vertical while the panels I0 will be inclined, as shown for example in Figs. 6 and '7. 'I'he tie strips 2| are inserted laterally over the tongues I'I and the end portions of the tie strips are inserted through the slits I8. This will bring the tongues 23 outside or back of the end flaps 2 and the ears 25 can then beV pressed down through the slits 20 so that the parts will thus Aoccupy the relative positions shown in Fig. 2. The tray thus completed can be inserted downwardly into the box and the height of the end flaps 2 is such that the upper edges thereof will come close to the lid or cover C as shown in Fig. 3 so that the ends of the tray Vwill thereby be held down against the bottom of the box when the cover or lid is'in position. If desired these end flaps can be fastened to the adjacent walls of the box by means of staples S or the like. Where the tray is of considerable length, the intermediate portion thereof can be held down by inserting a cross-strip 2'I transversely under an intermediate portion of the blank I and over the middle portions of the tie strips 2|, as has been shown in Fig. 2. The ends of this retaining strip 21 can be extended upwardly, as at 28, and stapled to the adjacent walls ofthe box as indicated at S', if so desired.

With the parts thus assembled the gardenias, which can be in the form ofnosegays G, are

positioned with their stems extending into the' respective openings I2. They will be gripped by the depressed segmental flaps I3 which Vvthus serve to hold the flowers onto the inclined panels I0. They will be spaced apart so as not to contact with other flowers in the same row and as all of the rows are supported in inclined positions, as indicated in Fig. 2, it will be apparent that the ilowers of one row'will not contact with the owers of other rows. The owers are also held out of contact with the container. With the parts thus assembled the flowers can be shipped by air express or otherwise and during such transportation, will be held in such a manner asV not to become damaged as a result of contact with any part of the tray or container.

What is claimed is:

l. A tray for holding flowers including a sheet of bendable material foldable alongY transverse lines and providing, when folded, inclined apertured panels Vfor engaging flowers and supporting panels extending upwardly to the inclined panels, tongues along the side portions of the sheet, and tiedevices detachablyY engaging the tongues to hold the panels in predetermined positions relative to each other.

2. A tray for holding flowers including a sheet of material foldable along transverse lines to provide supporting and inclined panels converging upwardly toward each other, said panels being arranged in spaced pairs, the inclined panels having means for engaging and holding flowers, tongues at the sides of the sheet material, and tie devices mounted on the tongues for holding the panels against relative movement.

3. A flower-holding tray including a sheet of material` foldable along transverse lines to provide spaced pairs of upwardly extending panels, each pair including a supporting panel and an inclined panel, the inclined panel having means for engaging and holding flowers, laterally extended tongues integral with the sheet, and tie devices having spaced openings for the reception of the respective tongues.

4. A tray for holding flowers including a sheet of material foldable along transverse lines to provide spaced pairs of panels, each pair including a supporting panel and an inclined panel, said panels of each pair converging and one of the panels having flower engaging and holding means, there being slits extended into the sides of the sheet defining tongues therebetween, tie elements having spaced slots, said elements being slidably mounted on the tongues and cooperating therewith to hold the panels of each pair against relative movement and to hold the pairs of panels in spaced relation.

5. A tray for holding flowers including a sheet of material foldable along transverse lines to provide spaced pairs of panels, each pair including a supporting panel and an inclined panel, said panels of each pair converging and one of the panels having flower engaging and holding means, there being slits extended into the sides of the sheet defining tongues therebetween, tie elements having spaced slots, said elements being slidably mounted on the tongues and cooperating therewith to hold the panels of each pair against relative movement and tohold the pairs of panels in spaced relation, end aps integral with the sheet and having slots, tongues at the ends of the tie devices lapping the flaps, and means on said tongue removably seated in the slots in the end aps for holding the tie devices assembled with said end flaps and the sheet of material.

6. The combination with a container including a removable cover, of means for holding flowers in spaced relation within the container, said means including a sheet o-f material having transverse folds providing spaced pairs of panels, the panels of each pair converging upwardly and one of said panels having means for engaging and holding flowers in spaced relation, laterally extended tongues integral with the side portions of said sheet, flaps integral with the ends of the sheet and -extended upwardly along adjacent walls of the container, tie devices, laterallygextended tongues on said sheet engaging the tie devices and cooperating therewith to hold the panels of each pair against relative movement and for holding the pairs in properly spaced relation, a cross-strip extending over the tie devices, means thereon engaging opposed walls of Ythe container said devices and end flaps cooperating with the container to hold the sheet upon th bottom portion of the container.

PETER BACIGALUPI. 

